Not caste killing: Police on teen’s murder in Nellai

Tirunelveli: Police have ruled out the allegation of caste killing in the murder of a teenager in Appuvilai near Thisayanvilai on Sunday night. K Muthaiah, 19, was found dead with stab injuries near Odakarai bridge on Sunday night. His father P Kanniappan filed a complaint with the Thisayanvilai police claiming that Muthaiah was in love with a girl from another caste and he was murdered by the girl’s relatives. Based on his complaint, police filed a murder case under IPC 302 and Section 3 (2) (v) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Kanniappan also filed a complaint at the Tirunelveli SP office. However, on Tuesday the district police issued a statement clarifying the caste killing angle in the murder case. On the orders of the superintendent of police, N Silambarasan, six teams were formed under Valliyoor DSP Yogesh Kumar to arrest the murderers.The team’s investigation revealed that Muthaiah was involved in the eve-teasing of a girl from Appuvilai. The girl’s brother Suresh had warned Muthaiah earlier. Besides, there is a pending case against one of Muthaiah’s relatives for sexually assaulting Suresh’s sister. The girl complained to Suresh on July 22 about Muthaiah teasing her and persuading her to marry him. Suresh and his relatives Mathialagan and Jayaprakash decided to kill Muthaiah.They found Muthaiah and his friend at Odakarai Bridge on Sunday evening and confronted them. The verbal altercations soon turned into an attack by the three on Muthaiah. His friend fled with a minor injury while Muthaiah died due to stab injuries. All three accused in this murder case have been arrested. Moreover, the victim and the accused belong to the same community and there is no truth in the caste killing, it added.
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